Frieda Bequeaith, RN, is honored to be awarded the Isabel McIsaac Scholarship. Frieda earned their Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Evergreen State College. Upon graduating, they began their career in healthcare as a full spectrum doula and sexual health educator. Working with a community doula program in the Midwest, Frieda provided free services to low-income pregnant people, trainings, and mentorship for new doulas. This work strengthened their commitment to patient advocacy, informed consent practices, and expanding access to reproductive care.
Frieda is currently pursuing their Master of Science in Nursing at the Yale University with a dual focus of Certified Nurse Midwifery & Women’s Health APRN. They are enrolled in the Gender & Health Justice Concentration, adding additional classes and clinical experiences to their education that focus on health disparities of LGBTQ+ patients through a racial and economic justice lens.
Frieda’s work is rooted in their long-held belief that every person deserves to have their pregnancy experience supported and validated. They believe in a holistic approach to healthcare that recognizes and honors the way a person’s health intersects with all aspects of their life. Frieda has been involved in various forms of reproductive health advocacy, harm reduction work, and mutual aid projects over the past 10 years. Currently, they are a leader of the 2024-25 US Health Justice Class at Yale School of Medicine and volunteer at HAVEN, a student-run free clinic for uninsured people in New Haven, CT.
After completing their MSN, Frieda plans to work as an APRN to provide reproductive care services to LGBTQ+ communities. They see the field of healthcare as a space to advance reproductive justice by giving people autonomy over their bodies and futures by providing knowledge, care, and options. Frieda is grateful to receive this scholarship, which not only alleviates financial burdens but also serves as a powerful endorsement of their commitment to contribute meaningfully to healthcare.
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